Donald Harrison Jr. (b. June 23, 1960) is an American jazz saxophonist.
… Read Full Bio ↴Donald Harrison Jr. (b. June 23, 1960) is an American jazz saxophonist.

Career

Harrison played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 1980s, and co-led a group with fellow New Orleanian Terence Blanchard for many years. He also played with the re-formed Headhunters band in the 1990s. His performance credits include appearances and recordings with many influential jazz musicians. Harrison's records and live performances are in the jazz mainstream, but still manage to incorporate influences from many of the other styles that are prominent in his hometown.

Harrison also performs in the smooth jazz genre. His group Donald Harrison Electric Band has recorded popular radio hits and have charted in the top ten of Billboard magazine. He performs in the traditional Mardi Gras Indian and Hiphop genres with his group, "The New Sounds of Mardi Gras." The group which has 2 recorded 2 CDs was started 4 years ago and has made appearances worldwide. Harrison is the Chief of the Congo Nation New Orleans Cultural Group which keeps alive the secret traditions of Congo Square.

Here is a partial list of Harrison's playing credit: Doc Paulin, Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey, Eddie Palmieri, Nat Adderley, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, Digable Planets, Jazzmatazz, Jennifer Holiday, Miles Davis, and the great Lena Horne.

Harrison also writes orchestral works for major orchestras. Harrison was chosen as the person of the year by Jazziz magazine in January 2007. His latest CD's, "3D Vol.'s I, II, and III," feature him in 3 different musical genres. On vol. I he writes, plays, and produces music in the smooth jazz, and R&B style. On vol. II he writes, produces and plays in the classic jazz style. On vol. III he writes plays and produces in the hiphop genre.

Harrison's CD's, "Spirits of Congo Square," recorded in 2002 and, "Indian Blues," recorded in 1991 have influenced other jazz musicians like Terence Blanchard on his composition, "Ghost of Congo Square," And Wynton Marsalis recording titled, "Congo Square."

Harrison was forced to evacuate New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and proceeds from his album Nouveau Swing will go to victims of the hurricanes.

Teaching

Harrison has been influential in nurturing a number of young musicians including the young Grammy nominated trumpeter Christian Scott (Harrison's nephew), Mark Whitfield, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, Dwayne Bruno, John Lamkin, Vicente Archer, Joe Dyson, Max Moran, Conun Pappas, Victor Gould, and The Notorious B.I.G. Harrison was featured in Spike Lee's HBO documentary, "When the Levees Broke."

Harrison also directed the New Jazz School for the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans,[1] which aims to teach young musicians to play and understand various elements of jazz in just 2 weeks, which is similar to the NOCCA program. Other faculty of the June 9-21st 2008 New Jazz School included Christian Scott on trumpet, David Pulphus on bass, Jesse McBride on Piano, Ricky Sebastian on drums, and Detroit Brooks on guitar. Grammy Award winner Brian Lynch (musician) was the guest artist of the program.

Family

Harrison was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father (Donald Harrison, Sr.) was a legendary Big Chief in New Orleans cultural history.

Harrison's nephew, Christian Scott, is a Grammy-nominated jazz musician.

Friends

While living in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Harrison befriended a young Notorious B.I.G.

My Funny Valentine
Donald Harrison Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
And slightly dopey gent, you are

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me

Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Overall Meaning

“My Funny Valentine” is a song about loving someone for who they are, even if they don't fit the conventional standards of beauty. The opening lines describe a bird proudly showing off its virtuous qualities, contrasting with the person described in the subsequent lines. These lines describe this person's physical appearance as being somewhat disheveled and vacant, but also noble, upright, truthful and sincere. The song suggests that despite not fitting the conventional standards of beauty or perhaps lacking in some ways, this person is still loveable and valuable.

The song then transitions into the chorus where the singer affectionately addresses their loved one as their "funny valentine" and states that they make them smile with their heart. The second part of the chorus takes a more ironic tone, stating that the loved one's looks are "laughable" and "un-photographable," but they're still the singer's "favorite work of art." The song then returns to the same refrain, asking if the loved one's physical appearance is less than perfect or if they aren't conventionally intelligent. The singer assures the loved one that they don't need to change a thing, concluding that every day is Valentine's Day with them.

Line by Line Meaning

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at how confident and proud our charming and elegant friend is

His virtue doth parade
He displays his goodness and moral excellence openly

Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
But you, my unintelligent and silly friend, do not understand

The picture thou hast made
How ridiculous and foolish you look

Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Your empty expression and messy hair

Conceal thy good intent
Hide your true intentions and kind heart

Thou noble upright truthful sincere
You are honorable, righteous, sincere, and truthful

And slightly dopey gent, you are
But you are also a bit foolish and slow, my friend

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
My amusing and entertaining valentine, with your witty humor

You make me smile with my heart
You bring joy and happiness to my heart

Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Your appearance is amusing and cannot be captured in a photo